Table having reversible tray mounted therein and means for washing the same



Feb. 26, 1957 L. R. rowNsEND 2,782,426

TABLE HAVING REVERSIBLE TRAYy MOUNTED THEREIN AND MEANS FOR WASHING THESAME Filed June l1, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l IM 'EN TOR. OPEN RTW/VS END ATTOANET Feb. 26, 1957 R TOWNSEND 2,782,426

TABLE HAVING REVERSIBLE TRAY MOUNTED THEREIN AND MEANS FOR WASHING THESAME Filed June 11, 1954 3 Sl'xeets-Shee?l 2 I N V EN TOR. J 46 fg 530M/v /zTaw/vsf/v @www Afro/#NET RX m Al R. TOWNSEND L. TABLE HAVINGREVERSIBLE TRAY MOUNTED THEREIN AND MEANS FOR WASHING THE SAME Feb. 26,1957 Filed June 11, 1954 INVENTOR. MEN RTOWNSE/V mfom/EY @mmm UnitedStates Patent TABLE HAVING REVERSIBLE TRAY. MUNTED AND MEANS. FORWASHING THE M Loren R. Townsend, Tucson, Ariz.

Application June 11, 1954, Serial No. 436,032

1 Claim. (Cl. 4 187) An object of the invention is to provide a devicethat I will reduce the labor and time spent in laying a table for ameal, in the removing the utensils and dishes from the table and thesubsequent washing and drying of the same.

The advantage that this particular invention has over conventionaldishwashers, is that the dishes need not be removed from the table forwashing or drying. The table is always set for the serving of a meal,yet the table top is always clear.

Another. object of the invention is to provide a tray which is recessedpermanently in a table top, yet may be manually reversed for the washingthereof and remaining in the reversed position until it is needed againfor the next meal.

Drinking glasses and eating utensils may be attached to the tray in anyway so that they will be washed when the tray is washed and when thetray is in position for eating a meal thereon, be in position to be usedduring the eating of the meal.

When the tray is reversed and is not in position to eat a meal thereon,the table top will be clear for such purposes as desired, such aswriting, playing cards or similar entertainment.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists of the novel details of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section,of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View, partly broken away, of the tray embodying theinvention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the tray, partly in section and partlybroken away and looking in the direction of the arrows on the line 4 4of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the tray inelevated position for the reversing thereof;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, partly in elevation and partly broken away,of the tray in reverse position to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detailed view of the latch bolt for retainingthe tray in parallel relation to the table top; Fig. 8 is a sectionalview on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a sectional View on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 11 11 of Fig. 7.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, wherein like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals the reference numeral 15 is usedto designate a table. top which is supported in elevated position abovethe oor in the conventional manner by the means of legs, not shown.

Mounted below the table top 15 is a receptacle 1,6 which is similar instructure to a conventional sink. The bottom of the receptacle tapersdownwardly at 17 towards a level portion 18 and a spray nozzle 19,having a water supply pipe 20 connected thereto, is mounted in thetapered portion 17 of the receptacle 16. The receptacle is water tightand will be provided with a drain and garbage disposal unit, not shown,for the elimination of the waste water and scraps that are washed fromthe tray embodying the invention as will be later described.

The table top 15 is provided with a rectangular shaped opening 21 whichis adapted to receive a tray 22. The tray having food receivingcompartments or recesses 23 and 24, respectively, in the top surfacethereof. As shown in Fig. 6, the bottom surface :of the tray 22 is flatand in the position shown in this gure is flush with the table top 15.

Secured to the bottom surface of the table top 15, within the receptacle16 is a frame like gasket 25. The gasket 25 being so positioned that itoverlies the four edges of the :opening 21 to provide a water tight sealabout the four edges of the tray 22. Suitable fastening means 25 beingused to secure the gasket 25 in position.

A hollow support 27 is secured to the portion 18 of the receptacle invertical relation thereto, beneath `the center of each longitudinal edge:of the tray 22. A base 28. on each support Z7 providing the meanswhereby the hollow support is secured in position. 27 being flush withthe upper surface of the gasket 25, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Telescopically received in each support 27 is a bar like support 29,which is provided in :one longitudinal edge thereof with arcuate shapedindentations 30 and 31, respectively. The indentations are adapted to beselectively engaged by an arcuate shaped spring latch 32. With thespring latch 32 engaging the indentation 30 the supports 29 are retainedin the position shown in Fig. 9. With the spring latch 32 engaging theindentation 31 the supports 29 are retained in the position shown inFig. 5.

A stop 33 is provided :on the lower end of each support 29 which willengage a bolt 34 to prevent the support 29 from being entirely removedfrom the supports 27. The bolt 34 is slidably mounted in a housing 35which is secured at 36 to the support 27, there being a housing 35mounted on each of the supports 27. A spring 37 biases the bolt 34 intothe support 27 so that it is in the path of the stop 33. The bolt 34,however, has a knob 38 on the outer end thereof, whereby the bolt 34 maybe moved ICC :outwardly so that the supports 29 may be entirely removedfrom the supports 27 if desired.

In the table top adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of the tray 22is a recess 39 into which the upper end of the support 29 extends, asshown in Fig. 10. A pivot pin 40, same figure, is iixed in the upper endof each support 29 and extends into an opening 41 in the center of thetray. There being a pivot bolt and opening therefor in each longitudinaledge of the tray 22. The bolt 40 is provided adjacent its end with apair of diametrically arranged ats 41 which are adapted to receive thediametrically arranged latches 42 which are mounted in the diametricallyarranged recesses 43. A spring 44 in each recess abutting the inner endof each latch 42 to urge the same into its respective flat 41, as shownin Fig. 10. The latches 42 by engagement with the ats 41 serve to retainthe tray 22 in parallel relation to the table top 15,.

Adjacent each pivot bolt 40 the top surface of the tray 22 is providedwith a pair of diametrically arranged finger openings 45. The openingsbeing arranged in parallel relation to the edge of the tray. The bottomsurface of The top. of each support v Y 3 the tray 22 is provided withfinger openings 46 which are in alinement with the openings 4S and acircular cavity of larger diameter than the openings 45 and 46 forms adirect communication between the openings.

' ,In this'manner an annular shoulder 47 underlies each opening 45 andan annular'shoulder 48 underlies each opening 46. Each kopening 45 isclosed by a button 49 having an annular ange 50 thereon which engagingthe shoulder 47 prevents the button 49 from emerging from the opening45. Each opening 46 is closed by a button 51, similar to the button 49,and an annular flange 52 on the button 51 engaging the shoulder 4Sprevents the button 51 from emerging from the opening 46. A spring 53abutting each button at its opposite ends retains the buttons inposition, as in Fig. l1.

' `When the tray 22 is to be used in serving a meal, it is positioned inthe table top 15, as shown in Fig. 1. The recesses 23 and 24 being usedto receive the food. When the meal is iinished the buttons 45 may bepushed in- Wardly to provide a finger grip whereby the tray may beelevated to'the position shown in Fig. 5. The spring latches 32 engagingthe indentations 31 in the supports 29 retaining the Vtray 22 inelevated position. By pushing upwardly or downwardly on yone edge of thetray 22 the latches 42 may be overcome and the tray reversed, as shownin this figure. The tray may then be pushed downwardly into the positionshown in Fig. 6. The Water is sprayed onto the top surface of the tray22 by the nozzle 19 and thoroughly washed so that it is in condition tohe used again when the procedure of reversing the tray is reverselyperformed as previously described.

While only one tray has been used for purposes of illustration, it is tobe understood that several trays may be used in the table top within theconcept :of the invention. The shape of the table top is also understoodto be variable, as well as the size thereof.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the invention willbe apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood thatmany changes and variations of the details of construction, arrangementand combintaion of parts may be made provided they fall within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredtobe secured by Letters Patent is:

vA'deviceof the characterdescribed comprising a table top having an`opening therein, a gasket affixed to the underside of said table topadjacent said opening and extending inwardly with respect to saidopening in a plane parallel with the plane of said table top', a sinkmounted beneath said table top, a pair of hollow vertical supportsmounted in said sink, a pair of support bars slidably mounted in saidhollow supports, a tray revolubly mounted upon the upper ends of saidsupport bars and having food compartments in one face thereof, latchmeans carried by said hollow supports for maintaining said support barsin raised position, and latch means for maintaining said support bars inlowered position, said -tray adapted to contact said gasket when inlowered position and to be rotated to a reverse position when in raisedposition on said support bars.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 702,035Shaffer June 10, 1902 1,373,506 Hoyt Apr. 5, 1921 1,872,849 Townes Aug.23, 1932 1,952,568 Schapp et al Mar. 27, 1934 2,045,890 Uhalt et al June30, 1936 2,079,737 Greenway May 11, 1937

